Fortis to start hip replacement training centre in Mohali

To take the expertise of hip replacement surgery to a new level, Fortis Hospital is soon starting a hip replacement training centre in its premises at Mohali.Shimona Kanwar | TNN | Updated: February 21, 2016, 11:51 IST

Fortis Malar Hospitals opens heart failure management centre in ChennaiTo take the expertise of hip replacement surgery to a new level, Fortis Hospital is soon starting a hip replacement training centre in its premises at Mohali.

Meanwhile, eminent hip replacement surgeon from Australia Dr. Ross William Crawford, who is here to participate in the 35th Annual Conference of North Zone Orthopaedic Association, has agreed to share his expertise with budding orthopaedic surgeons from across India at a workshop to be organised in Mohali in March this year.

Dr Sen said the aim of this workshop is to deliver enhanced education/training on Total Hip Replacement (THR) procedure to budding orthopaedic surgeons with a view to providing quality care to the patient. The workshop will not only serve to polish the skills of upcoming surgeons in THR but will also help to demolish the myths about this procedure.

Dr Sen informed that THR is usually advised as the golden standard of hip arthritis and a medical condition called avascular necrosis in patients older than 65 years or with advanced hip destruction or altered anatomy of the hip. The key factors fuelling the growth of hip replacement surgeries are an ageing population, sedentary lifestyle, rising health care expenditure, improved healthcare infrastructure and medical tourism.

However, Dr Sen said, even the younger population these days is at risk. Improved implant designs and a wide choice of implants have also helped surgeons choose the implant that best suits the needs of each patient. Most people above 60 years suffer from some kind of bone and joint disease and many of them have an immediate need for joint replacement surgery, he added.

Only in India the healthcare financing is very small when compared to the financing by the other forces rather than the patient himself or herself paying out of pocket. Having 70-75% of the expenses as out-of-pocket, in my opinion, is not a right approach to managing healthcare in a country where the patients tend to sub-optimally purchase healthcare if he/she has to pay out-of-pocket.